Tulips in the Spring

I know that there are flats of annuals out there waiting to be planted this weekend. And I know I've just decorated with American flags right in front of me on the dining room table. So of course I know that tulip season is long past. 

But goodness, it's so glorious. And even though I don't seem to have more time than just as I pull into and out of our driveway to notice them, I am gosh darn determined to take pictures of them - to freeze time - to look back whenever I want and need to. Because of course they took time to plan out, buy, and plant last November. And I'm so grateful that he did. 

Because these pops of color that creep out of the ground into the dirt after the long winter sure are brilliant.  

This Was Fun ~ Prom

Anna wasn't into going to the prom. It just wasn't her. Her junior year was also 2020 and everything like that was canceled. In 2021 when she was a senior I'm not even sure if there was a prom that year either. 

I never gave it a thought - even as Abigail was in the middle of her junior year. So when she decided to go to prom we had to move fast. She decided to go in April and prom was May 11. 

Prom Dress Shopping 

So during our spring break in April we had some time on that Wednesday. I took her to Mariella Creations where I got my senior prom dress (back in 1991 - I went to prom with Scott). 

She picked a dress, we ordering it, and I think only 45 minutes past. 

We loved the color (jade). We loved the style on her. We loved everything about it. I loved the service (even though it was so expensive); it was worth it! 

It came in - in about a week and luckily we had taken a little more time that April break week to get shoes for her. 

 That sure was fun... 

I didn't realize just how much more there was! I suppose I did but it was such a busy time of year for our family and we had a lot to squeeze in! 

Next we found a taylor who wanted $350 to shorten it. Ummmm no. So finally after some calls we found another place and it all worked out perfectly. 

Prom Day

As an early birthday present I gave Abigail at an appointment at Blow Dry Bar. The only problem was she had orchestra until 2:30, was meeting friends for pictures at a park at 5:00, and the hair (took a long time) appointment was at 3:45. We basically didn't have time for makeup. In about 5 minutes flat, we quickly got on as much as we could (how much makeup does a 16 year old really need anyway?). The stunning gown and perfect hair made up for our lack of time! 

After getting (as quick as we could) into her dress be headed to a park for pictures. Here they are! 

She came home so happy that night - danced with her friends, had a lovely meal (they were very accommodating with her allergies), and just had so much fun -- memories to keep forever! 

April Break (part 2)

I posted at the beginning of our spring break back here. I wanted to get a few more pictures I found on my phone from the rest of our break. (I posted about our spring break way back here) 

We loved Newport  

Scott bought me a lamp for Mother's Day from a store I've loved online and insta forever. Finally got to go in person and I brought home the most beautiful lamp. (thank you Scott!) 

There was prom dress shopping (another post coming soon) 

And three college tours. 

I had stars in my eyes about that week off and one thing that was lovely was that it went slow. It feels like our trip to Newport that was on Monday and Tuesday was a year ago. I loved the extra time, the time at home, and the time with my little family. 

The Season of Concerts

Oh goodness, I won't take one song, one concert for granted. I know my days as a Mom at orchestra concerts for my daughters won't be forever and I love them so much. 

I won't lie, it's really a full weekend when there are two concerts, a birthday part (Abigail is 17 - more coming on that), and a big week to prepare for. Phew! 

And I thought about going back to where ever I left off but I think I'll start with this weekend (minus the birthday party) 

On Saturday Abigail played for the HARTT string orchestra called Opus. It's comprised of students from many different towns and is an auditioned orchestra. The concert was beautiful. And the best news is that it was recorded. It's a bit tricky to find where Abigail starts playing because Opus is the last orchestra up, but here is the video: 

If you start at 1:05 you will see the orchestra that Abigail is in: 

So beautiful, right? Oh my heart! 

Then today she played in Cameratta. This also is an auditioned orchestra with students from just our two high schools. Although it wasn't recorded I did take a few clips of each song:

 

Abigail has a viola solo in there -- I'm so glad I caught it! 

And she let me get a picture of her outside when we left! 

One more concert during the week and then this viola can rest for a while... 

May

Oh gosh I am so behind on this blog of mine -- May has me feeling like I'm on a treadmill that I can't slow down... but Scott and I are grasping for moment to sit -- spring is so crazy as a parent, isn't it?! I think it's a whole lot more crazy when both mom and dad are in education... the last month of school is a rollercoaster with state testing, end of year assessments', report cards that I haven't even thought of starting, data, meetings, and of course I got an idea for a classroom 'refresh' that I just can't seem to let go of... so I'm doing that on top of everything else. But summer will come and we will stop and rest... and Anna will be here so that will be amazing! (and isn't it so great to have a career that actually STOPS and doesn't just keep going - one that has a crazy end but actually gets to END every summer? So grateful for being a teacher! I love the school year and actually teaching and am so grateful that it does just stop and allow me to be 'just mom'. 

We've had so many events here that I've got to get on this blog -- spring in our home (oh the tulips!), Prom!!! , orchestra concerts, a birthday, and so much in between! 

I'm not sure where and when I can catch up -- this week has me teaching (obviously) all week and three evenings (one dr appointment, one 4-7pm educational meeting, and another concert). This weekend was Abigail's birthday and two concerts -- so basically the whole weekend. 

What is surprising is how well I'm doing with all of this stress. I'm doing just fine, doing one thing after another - not allowing myself to really think about how crazy it all really is -- just doing it. 

I think my plan is to set the timer each evening for 20 minutes to dig myself out of being behind on my blog. If I can stick to 20 minutes, I'll get there bit by bit! 

Beauty in the Ordinary

A wise woman builds her house but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands" Proverbs 14:1 

I believe that home is not meant to be only a roof over our heads. It is not just the place where we go when the workday is over. Home is meant to be a place of refuge and rest from our labors. It is meant to be a source of refreshment and restoration for us. It's a place where we are meant to be fed and nourished - by our conversations and times together as much as as by the food our plates. 

This is the kind of home Jesus can become for us: our refuge in the storms of life, our refreshment when we are anxious and feeling worn then, and our source of inner nourishment when we are feeling empty and weak. 

Recently I went through our home with a notebook and quickly wrote down all of the areas our physical home needed a bit of love. Maybe a room didn't feel cozy and welcoming, maybe there just needed a bit of spring cleaning to happen. I felt like our bedroom just needed some new fresh sheets. I found these Laura Ashely ones at Marshals and they worked to wonderfully with the quilt pillow my Mom bought me at an antique store and the quilt I've had forever at the end of the bed. 

It's a little bit of sunshine to wake up to and and fall asleep in at the end of a day. 

Purposefully inserting goodness and beauty into the moments of our days is an important goal in my life so that our living reflects the reality of the goodness we believe about God. 

National Honor Society

She wanted to 'down play' this evening -- not dress up, not take a picture before we left, even saying we didn't have to go. At first I thought it was typical teenageness but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it's because Abigail is so humble. She works so hard. She's our ADHD, EoE, OCD, Anxiety, scoliosis daughter. She has ever reason in the world to just do the basics. It just get by. But she doesn't. Day after day, evening after evening, weekend after weekend, she studies, does the work, is involved in her school community, is kind to everyone, is a wonderful encouraging friend, and so yes, this night was hard earned and we were going to celebrate! 

Her best friend was a NHS inductee as well. 

It ended up being a joy filled night and I am so glad! 

Love you so much Abigail and I'm so proud of you!